Guy “Bus” Snodgrass, CEO Defense Analytics, retired naval aviator, and Top Gun alumni, discussed the impact of Navy’s MQ-25 decision on carrier Airwing effectiveness and naval aviation culture in an interview with Defense & Aerospace Report editor Vago Muradian.
The Navy awarded The Boeing Co., a contract to provide the “design, development, fabrication, test, verification, certification, delivery, and support of four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles, including integration into the carrier air wing to provide an initial operational capability to the Navy. “
Snodgrass, who served as Communications Director for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis until earlier this month, told Vago this decision is the “essence of the new National Defense Strategy.” As the increased pace of this acquisition embodies the speed that will be necessary to stay ahead of competitors like Russia and China.
The contract for the four “Stingrays” is valued at a ceiling price of $805,318,853 and is expected to be complete by 2024. The first $79,050,820 of the contract is slated to be obligated at time of award.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson said, “We will look back on this day and recognize that this event represents a dramatic shift in the way we define warfighting requirements, work with industry, integrate unmanned and manned aircraft, and improve the lethality of the airwing — all at relevant speed.”
